Eurostar Ski Train (daytime)

Introduction

The Eurostar Ski Train to the Alps is the most direct way of getting from London to Moutiers, Aime and Bourg St. Maurice stations, which service resorts in the Tarentaise region of the French Alps.

It departs London every Saturday morning (and stops at Ashford International too) and returns the following Saturday morning from the Alps.

Travelling this way is a lot of fun. The train could probably do with a few more table seats in Standard Class, while in Standard Premier every seat has a table seat. There is a cafe bar, a happy atmosphere and compared to flying or driving it is easier, more enjoyable and frequently quicker too - door to door.

This is a new film that Snowcarbon founder Daniel Elkan made about it, commissioned by Eurostar.

Step 1: Take the Ski Train to the Alps

The Ski Train en route

The Eurostar Ski Train, being direct, is the simplest of journeys.

You get on, and 7-8 hours later you get off, in the Alps, a short transfer by bus or taxi from lots of great resorts.

It's a smooth, comfortable journey, and the cafe bar is always lively with a nice ambience. However you spend the time on your journey on the Ski Train, you're guaranteed to be having a better experience than those who are navigating their way through airports, onto cramped flights and then long transfers. You'll probably reach the slopes faster — door to door — and with a fraction of the carbon emissions, too.

Step 2: Transfer to your resort

Once you arrive, all you have to do is make the relatively short transfer the train station to the ski resort. These transfers are typically between 25 minutes and 45 minutes, and are far shorter than airport transfers - which can take anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours - or even longer.

It's a good idea pre-book a taxi transfer, although at popular stations like Bourg St Maurice and Moutiers you can find a taxi driver on the spot too. We've launched a service to match people up to share taxis, saving you money and carbon emissions - find out more here.

There're also buses from train stations to ski resorts, usually timed to coincide with the arrival of the TGV.

What children think of this journey

Daniel (Snowcarbon Founder) says:

"Travelling to the Alps, it never fails to impress on me how much children love the journeys. Walk up and down any train and you'll see very happy families - train journey really suit children - as well as adults.

I thought it would be interesting to make a film about what children themselves think of the journey. So I took my camera to St Pancras and got on board the daytime Eurostar Ski Train.

The children interviewed in this film were all found on location in St Pancras and on the train. They had a lot to say about the journey - and skiing! Indeed, they can teach us a thing or two about how to have fun when travelling by train to the Alps."

Daytime Eurostar Ski Train predicted timetable 2020-21

Here's a summary of timetable info for the Eurostar Ski Train 2020-21 season:

Outbound journey

The first daytime outbound departure from London to the Alps is Saturday 19th December 2020

The last daytime outbound departure from London to the Alps is Saturday 3rd April 2021

Depart

Arrive

London St Pancras

Ashford

Moutiers

Aime

Bourg St Maurice

09:45

10:28

18:27

18:46

19:03

Return journey

The first daytime return departure from the Alps to London is Saturday 26th December 2020

The last daytime return departure from the Alps to London is Saturday 10th April 2021

Depart

Arrive

Bourg St Maurice

Moutiers

Ashford

London St Pancras

09:34

10:14

15:37

16:13

Engineering works:
The Eurostar Ski Train will not stop at Ashford on Saturday 26th December 2020, due to planned engineering works. You'll need to board and alight at London St Pancras.

Where the Eurostar Ski Train stops

We've created a graphic of railway stations in the Tarentaise area of the French Alps. You can see which stations the Eurostar Ski Train calls at and which railway stations TGV trains from Paris call at too.

Top Tips

There is no inbound Eurostar Ski Train stop at Aime Le Plagne. If you’re staying in La Plagne, you’ll need to get the Ski Train back from Bourg St Maurice (Bourg St Maurice station is easier access from La Plagne than Moutiers station)

The Eurostar Ski Train has a daytime (Saturdays) and overnight service (Friday nights out, Saturday nights back) every week of winter.

The first outbound Eurostar Ski Train is Friday 18th December 2020 and the last returning train is Saturday 10th April 2021.

Multiple TGV trains depart throughout Saturdays and Sundays (and some weekdays) during the winter season.

How much does the daytime Eurostar Ski Train cost?

The lead-in fare for the Eurostar Ski Train is £160 return per adult - i.e. that's the cheapest it can be. However the reality is that on peak dates, even if you book as soon as the train goes on sale, trains are priced at about £300 - £550 return.
Fares for children aged 4 - 11 are 30% cheaper than adult fares. Children under four years old can travel for free, but without a reserved seat.

Here's a table showing what we estimate the price will be, assuming that you book soonish after the train goes on sale and don't leave it to the last minute:

Date

Adult return price

Non-peak

£160 - £190

Christmas

£300 - £350

New Year

£320 - £400

Feb half-term

£400 - £500

Easter

£280 - £320

When can you book the Eurostar Ski Train 2020-21?

Tickets for independent travel on the daytime and the overnight Eurostar Ski Trains go on sale mid July 2020 (date TBC).

How to transfer from the daytime Eurostar Ski Train to your resort

To transfer from the Eurostar Ski Train to your hotel, chalet or apartment in resort, you have four options:

1. If you've booked a rail-inclusive ski package from a ski tour operator, your transfer will normally be included in the package.
2. If you've booked an independent chalet, the chalet company may be able to offer to pick you up from the train - check what they charge for this service.
3. You could book a local taxi (see table below)
4. You could book a bus transfer (see table below) if the bus times connect conveniently with the Ski Train (they don't always - but we at Snowcarbon are campaining to change that).

Local taxi transfers from the Eurostar Ski Train to resorts

The prices below are averages, sourced from a variety of local taxi-transfer companies.

We've launched a service to match people up to share taxis, saving you money and carbon emissions - find out more here.

From Bourg St Maurice: local taxi prices to nearby ski resorts

Ski resort

1 pax

2 to 4 pax

5 pax

6 pax

7 pax

8 pax

La Rosière

60 €

65 €

70 €

80 €

90 €

100 €

La Plagne

70 €

75 €

80 €

85 €

90 €

100 €

Les Arcs 1600

50 €

55 €

60 €

65 €

70 €

80 €

Les Arcs 1800

55 €

60 €

65 €

70 €

75 €

85 €

Les Arcs 1950

65 €

75 €

80 €

90 €

100 €

110 €

Les Arcs 2000

70 €

80 €

85 €

95 €

105 €

115 €

Peisey – Vallandry

50 €

55 €

60 €

65 €

70 €

80 €

Sainte Foy

45 €

50 €

55 €

60 €

65 €

75 €

Tignes

80 €

85 €

90 €

100 €

110 €

120 €

Val d’Isère

80 €

85 €

90 €

100 €

110 €

120 €

From Moutiers: local taxi prices to nearby ski resorts

Ski resort

1 to 3 pax

4 pax

5 pax

6 pax

7 pax

8 pax

Couchevel le Praz 1300

63 €

68 €

73 €

83 €

93 €

105 €

Courchevel Village 1550

68 €

73 €

78 €

88 €

98 €

110 €

Couchevel Moriond 1650

70 €

75 €

80 €

90 €

100 €

115 €

Courchevel 1850

75 €

80 €

85 €

95 €

105 €

120 €

Doucy

55 €

58 €

60 €

70 €

80 €

90 €

La Tania

63 €

68 €

73 €

83 €

93 €

105 €

Les Menuires

75 €

80 €

85 €

95 €

105 €

120 €

Meribel Les Allues

48 €

53 €

58 €

68 €

78 €

88 €

Meribel Village

55 €

58 €

60 €

70 €

80 €

90 €

Meribel Centre

58 €

63 €

68 €

78 €

88 €

98 €

Meribel Morel

58 €

63 €

68 €

78 €

88 €

98 €

Meribel Mottaret

65 €

70 €

75 €

85 €

95 €

110 €

St Martin de Belleville

63 €

68 €

73 €

83 €

93 €

105 €

Val Thorens

90 €

95 €

100 €

110 €

120 €

140 €

Valmorel

55 €

60 €

65 €

75 €

85 €

100 €

How to book the Eurostar Ski Train

Tickets for independent travel on the daytime and the overnight Eurostar Ski Trains go on sale mid July 2020 (exact date TBC) for all dates of the 2020-21 winter season.

The Eurostar Direct Ski Train is simple to book online. If you already know where you want to go and are travelling independently, you can book the Eurostar Ski Train on Eurostar's website.

One of the best ways to book the Eurostar Ski Train is with a rail-inclusive package from ski tour operators. The train travel costs about the same price as flights - and has transfers from station to resort included.You can visit the ski train holidays page to view ski holidays by train from a number of tour operators.